WASHINGTON (August 15, 2003) – Animal protection and
environmental conservation groups from around the world - led by The
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) - today joined in unified
worldwide opposition to the Canadian commercial seal hunt.

As one of its first actions, the international coalition
of animal protection groups signed a full-page advertisement in today’s
New York Times asking readers to contact the Canadian government and
voice their opposition to the seal slaughter. Over the next three years,
The HSUS and its supporters will attempt to raise $3 million or more to
finance additional advertising to galvanize public opinion and end the
seal hunt. Canada has announced it will allow the legal slaughter of
almost 1,000,000 seals,most aged 12 days to 12 weeks over the next
three years.

In addition to The HSUS, the groups include, the Animal
Protection Institute (API), the Bellerive Foundation, the Born Free
Foundation, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the
International Wildlife Coalition (IWC), The Fund for Animals, Respect
for Animals, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(RSPCA), the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and
three branches of Humane Society International. Collectively the groups
represent tens of millions of members and constituents worldwide.

“This unites the global animal welfare community in the
strongest possible opposition to the needless and inhumane killing of
Canadian seals,” said John W. Grandy, Ph.D., HSUS senior vice president
for wildlife and habitat protection. “We intend to use the power of our
collective voice to expose the Canadian government’s callous disregard
for the lives of these innocent creatures. The slaughter must end.”

The HSUS launched the new “Protect Seals: Do Something”
campaign in June following a decision by the Canadian government to
increase the annual seal killing quote to 350,000 seals. The campaign
includes a major advertising blitz, a letter and e-mail writing effort
targeted at the Canadian government to express opposition to the seal
hunt, and a web site, www.protectseals.org, to educate consumers on the
seal hunt and facilitate campaign activities.

According To Rebecca Aldworth of the International Fund
for Animal Welfare (IFAW), first hand observer of the hunt this past
spring, “It is an unbelievably cruel massacre. An independent veterinary
panel, including two participants from the United States, concluded that
up to 42 percent of the seals they studied at the 2001 seal hunt were
likely skinned alive. In addition, a significant number of seals are
shot in open water and escape to die slowly under the ice, and these
seals are not recovered or counted in official kill statistics – not a
pretty picture.”

And, these are young seals. The Canadian government’s
own statistics show that 95% of the animals killed in Canada’s seal hunt
are “babies” aged less than three months. “What happens on the ice is
nothing short of shocking,” said Dan Morast of the International
Wildlife Coalition. “This is the largest hunt of marine mammals anywhere
in the world and it simply cannot be justified or defended.”

Even more disturbing is the fact that the Canadian
government provides millions of dollars of subsidies to the sealing
industry. “In fact, there is little about the sealing industry that is
self-sustaining,” said David Phillips, executive director of Earth
Island Institute’s Marine Mammal Project. “Subsidizing an industry that
only operates for a few weeks a year and creates only the equivalent of
100-150 full-time jobs is simply a bad investment on the part of the
Canadian government and, frankly does a tremendous disservice to the
sealers. Canada owes them a better future.”

“This travesty is of major concern to all of us who seek
a better world for animals,” said Michael Kennedy, director, Humane
Society International – Australia.” Most of the world believed this hunt
was a thing of the past and when Canada announced last spring that it
would kill over one million seals over the next three years, the world
community of animal protection organizations was stunned.”

“For a country of Canada’s stature and reputation to be
associated with this cruelty is truly monumental. Does Canada really
expect people to vacation there if this hunt continues?” asked Michael
Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals.

The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection
organization with over seven million members and constituents. The HSUS
is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion
animals, wildlife, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable
agriculture. For nearly 50 years, The HSUS has worked to protect all
animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education,
advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in
Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. For more
information, visit The HSUS’ Web site – www.hsus.org. Humane Society
International is the international arm of The Humane Society of the
United States. It is represented by three principal affiliates: Humane
Society International- Australia, Humane Society International-Asia, and
Humane Society International-U.K.

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